The Bachelor Could See Its First Gay Star
Australia may be on the verge of welcoming its first gay contestant on The Bachelor, with industry whispers suggesting that Sam Stanton, a groom from the 2026 season of Married At First Sight, could soon make the move to the dating show. This comes after his marriage to Chris Robinson ended in turmoil.
Pop culture expert Bella Hodgman recently shared her thoughts on Yahoo Lifestyle, stating that Sam, a fitness studio owner from Adelaide, would be an ideal fit for The Bachelor. According to her, Sam embodies traditional masculinity, which she believes appeals to both straight women and gay men. “He’s attractive to straight women, he’s attractive to gay men,” she said. “I think that he would be very palatable in a political sense. Then, in a more emotional sense, I think that he’s come across really beautifully on TV.”
Hodgman added: “Everyone loves him. Everyone supports him.” This sentiment seems to reflect the public’s view of Sam, who has been navigating the aftermath of his relationship with Chris.
Sam is currently single following the breakdown of his romance with Chris, which was featured in recent episodes of Married At First Sight. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Sam described watching the series back as “frustrating and confronting.” He revealed that one particular moment left him deeply hurt. “But the biggest thing sitting with me now is the unseen footage… I’m pretty f***ing hurt by it,” he admitted.
The footage in question showed Chris making comments about Sam’s finances and living situation—claims that Sam insists are not only hurtful but also untrue. “I never once used a coupon… I actually spent more money than him,” he said. “I lived with my best friend – not in a share house like he made it out.”
Chris has since addressed the moment, admitting that the remark was made in the heat of the moment. “It was just a silly, b**chy comment,” he said. However, for Sam, the issue ran deeper than one offhand comment.
According to Sam, problems were present from the beginning of the relationship, even though the pair appeared to be getting along in the early stages. “I felt like I was being spoken over quite a lot,” he said. “If you look back at our first commitment ceremony, he talks the whole time.”
For Sam, the relationship changed significantly at the commitment ceremony when Chris chose to write “leave.” “I thought we were both going to write stay and work on things,” he said. “But as soon as I saw him write leave… I was like, what am I doing here?”
From that point, Sam said the emotional connection between them began to fade. His experience on Married At First Sight has left him with mixed feelings, but it also opens the door for a new chapter in his life. If the rumors are true, Sam could be the next big name on The Bachelor, bringing a fresh perspective to the show.
